Selective Pre-Charge Driving Circuit for Display Power Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pre-charge operations in display panels result in unnecessary power consumption when the current output level and the next output level are the same, as the display panel unnecessarily changes the output voltage to a pre-charge level before switching to the next level.

Innovation Solution

A driving circuit and method that selectively perform pre-charging based on the combination of the current output voltage level and the next input voltage level, only pre-charging when the logic values are different, thereby maintaining the output voltage unchanged if they are the same, reducing unnecessary power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pre-charge operation is performed before every output level change, then the display panel is prepared for next output switching, but unnecessary power consumption occurs when current and next output levels are the same

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput switching preparationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-charge operation is made dynamic and conditional rather than fixed. The control circuit dynamically determines whether to perform pre-charge based on comparing the current output level with the next input level, enabling the system to adapt its behavior to actual needs and avoid unnecessary operations when levels are identical

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter (pre-charge execution) based on the relationship between output and input voltage levels. By monitoring voltage level parameters and adjusting pre-charge behavior accordingly, the system optimizes power consumption while maintaining reliable output switching preparation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If pre-charge operation is performed, then output voltage is pre-charged to specific voltage level, but unnecessary voltage changes occur when output level remains the same

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput voltage switching speedVSAvoidenergy loss from unnecessary voltage changes

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-charge operation is performed as a preliminary action only when actually needed. By checking the relationship between current and next voltage levels beforehand, the system performs the preliminary pre-charge action selectively, avoiding unnecessary voltage changes while maintaining fast switching capability when required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm of unnecessary pre-charge operations is converted into benefit by using the voltage level comparison mechanism. The system uses the information about voltage level relationships to intelligently control pre-charge execution, turning what could be a harmful waste into a beneficial optimization that reduces energy loss while maintaining switching performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS7791374B2Apparatus and method of adjusting driving voltage for selective pre-charge

Publication Date: 2010.09.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An output of a driving circuit is controlled by selectively outputting a first voltage or a second voltage as an N-th output voltage level in response to a first control signal and an N-th input voltage level, where N is a natural number, and pre-charging the selected N-th output voltage level to a third voltage or a fourth voltage, in response to a second control signal, the pre-charging being preformed based on the selected N-th output voltage level and a newly input (N+1)th input voltage level.